Just under a year ago Eddie Murphy and Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”) were planning on teaming up for a “Beverly Hills Cop” TV show for CBS. A pilot was shot, but the show wasn’t picked up. There is, however, a perceived interest in seeing Murphy return as Axel Foley and now Paramount has set Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol screenwriters Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec to pen a screenplay for a Beverly Hills Cop 4 and Murphy has reportedly agreed to return.
The series was to star Brandon T. Jackson (Tropic Thunder) as Axel’s son and apparently Murphy’s brief scene in the pilot episode (directed by Barry Sonnenfeld) was a scene stealer according to Deadline, which reignited interest.
No word on who will direct the film, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sonnenfeld or maybe even Ryan take it on. Previously Brett Ratner was going to direct back in 2008.
The Beverly Hills Cop franchise began in 1984 with director Martin Brest and the final installment, Beverly Hills Cop III, hit theaters in 1994, directed by John Landis.
